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Increase in illegal fishing activity recorded during Covid-19

By
Sadhbh O'Neill
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Over 33,000 patrols undertaken by Inland Fisheries Ireland officers in 2020, as illegal fishing activity rose during Covid-19 last year

Patrol drones and surveillance equipment become increasingly important to detect illegal fishing in hard-to-reach areas

Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency with responsibility for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, recorded an increase in illegal fishing activity last year.

As a result, the agency initiated 119 prosecutions for fisheries-related offences in 2020, compared with 67 prosecutions in 2019. It also seized 1,287 illegal fishing items last year, up from 788 items the year before. Officers issued 240 fixed charge penalty notices last year, compared with 158 in 2019 and gave 756 cautions, up from 425 cautions in 2019.

The way in which Inland Fisheries Ireland patrols the country’s rivers and lakes also changed during Covid-19, with unmanned drone patrols becoming increasingly important, especially for difficult-to-reach terrains.

In total, officers from Inland Fisheries Ireland undertook 33,051 patrols of different types last year, a substantial increase on the previous year (28,276) despite Covid-19 related work challenges faced by Officers. The agency also credits higher detection rates with the use of advanced surveillance equipment, such as night vision scopes, infra-red sensing scopes and enhanced optical surveillance scopes.

The most common methods for patrolling riverbanks, rivers, lakes and coastlines in 2020 were:

  1. Vehicle and foot patrols (30,882 patrols)
  2. Bicycle patrols (1,227 patrols)
  3. Boat patrols (573 patrols)
  4. Drone patrols (136 patrols)
  5. Kayak patrols (129 patrols)
  6. Personal watercraft patrols (56 patrols)
  7. Quad patrols (46 patrols)

Meanwhile, members of the public are being encouraged to report any suspicions of illegal fishing activity directly to Inland Fisheries Ireland by telephoning its 24-hour confidential hotline on 0818 34 74 24.

Fisheries Protection Review & Key Statistics 2020 (Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland)

Total number of patrols undertaken by Inland Fisheries Ireland: 33, 051 (2020) / 28, 276 (2019)

Patrol Methods in 2020 – v- 2019

Boat Patrols: 573 (2020) / 917 (2019)

Kayak Patrols: 129 (2020) / 154 (2019)

Personal Watercraft Patrols: 56 (2020) / 23 (2019)

Quad Patrols: 46 (2020) / 28 (2019)

Bicycle Patrols: 1, 227 (2020) / 1, 344 (2019)

Vehicle and Foot Patrols: 30, 882 (2020) / 25, 748 (2019)

Drone Patrols: 136 (2020) / 56 (2019)

Patrols with Irish Air Corps: 2 (2020) / 4 (2019)

 

Prosecutions/ Illegal items seized/ fixed charge penalty notices/cautions:

Prosecutions initiated for breaches of fisheries legislation: 119 (2020)/ 67 (2019)

Illegal items seized: 1, 287 (2020) / 788 (2019)

Fixed charge penalty notices issued: 240 (2020) / 158 (2019)

Cautions issued: 756 (2020) / 425 (2019)

 

 

 

Another rather quiet week on the Moy

By
Markus Muller
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Kevin O’Boyle reports from the River Moy…

River Moy Angling Report – Week ending 05/09/21

Calm warm weather all over the Moy catchment resulted in very few anglers venturing out for the week. Low water levels and warm water temperatures made angling difficult. Water levels at Ballylahan Bridge on Monday morning read 0.307m and dropped off to 0.277m on Sunday night. Water temperatures remained at about 13˚Celsius. Ninety-five salmon were still recorded for the week with a good percentage released.

The Moy Fishery reported no fish caught for the week given the very low water levels.

Ballina Salmon Anglers reported 7 salmon caught for the week.

Mount Falcon Fishery reported 7 grilse for the week.

Knockmore Salmon Anglers produced 3 grilse for week.

Coolcronan Fishery reported 3 salmon caught during the week.

Byrne’s Fishery reported 11 grilse, the best fish weighing 6 lbs., all caught on the prawn.

Armstrong’s Fishery reported 3 salmon for the week.

Gannon’s Fishery produced 6 salmon for the week.

Foxford Fishery reported 16 salmon, the best weighing 7 lbs., mostly caught on the prawn.

Foxford Salmon Anglers reported 34 grilse with a good percentage released.

Cloongee Fishery reported one small grilse for the week, which was released.

East Mayo Anglers produced 3 small grilse with 2 released.

Trevor Sollis from the UK with a fresh grilse on the Foxford Fishery

The recent heavy rains, however, should see angling conditions improve once water levels will have dropped again. Prospects for the remainder of the season should be looking good.

Sea trout angling on the Moy Estuary remained a challenge, with mostly small trout caught and all released.

 

Plenty of fish of all sizes in Clare

By
Kevin Crowley
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A fine ling for John Fox

Sean Maguire, skipper of the Lady Gwen II, has been providing some great fishing opportunities to guests lately. On Tuesday he had members of two families from Cork and Kildare, who impressed him with their angling abilities. They had numerous species, including some good ling, the best of which was 8kg, caught by John Fox.

A fine ling for John Fox
A fine pollack for this young angler
Red gurnard
A spurdog for this young angler

On Monday a group including Rob Milford went shark fishing. Rob landed his first blue two years ago, and managed his first porbeagle this time, a fine (and feisty) female over 6 feet long.

Fish on!
A fine porbeagle for Rob

Over the weekend guests also had good whitefish sport, with plenty of pollack and ling, and the spurdogs were never far away, helping themselves to baits and providing good sport themselves.

A nice pollack
Spurdog

Go Fishing

Lady Gwen II

Fishing Adventures on Séan Maguire’s Lady Gwen II, a Lochin 33  M265Ti Perkins charterboat which operates 15 miles from Kilbaha, Carrigaholt, and Kilrush.

Whether you want to go to the Atlantic Ocean for a large selection of species, including different types of shark, or fish the estuary for ray conger tope etc, Fishing Adventures will cater for whatever fishing you desire.
Telephone: +353 (0) 877508758 or +353 (0) 894431182
Email: [email protected] Web: www.fishingadventures.ie

Great weather and fishing on the Clare Dragoon

By
Kevin Crowley
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Homeward bound after a good day on the water

It’s been a week if fairly light winds, making for great fishing conditions in west Clare. Well maybe a bit of breeze would have given a better drift for shark fishing, but there were plenty more species to be caught for skipper Luke Aston and his guests.

One group spent their last day drifting the reefs in almost flat calm conditions. Plenty of fish came to the boat with a nice mix including spurdogs, and even a fair sized cod which lucky for it got away at the surface!

A treble shot of pollack
Ling and a good size pouting
Homeward bound after a good day on the water

 

Luke also had a look for bluefin tuna but none have shown here so far. They did have a day in calm conditions surrounded by feeding minke and humpback whales, which must have been spectacular. Th fishing was pretty good too, with a mix of species, and even a first – a spurdog on a shad, and not just one, but a double hookup!

Double pollack
Double spurdog – on shads!
Another spurdog
Pollack and gurnard

In fact, spurdogs are so numerous at the moment they are being caught everywhere, even when targeting other species. Great to see them back in numbers. On another day when fishing was tough, they provided ample entertainment, with some nice pollack caught too.

Cuckoo wrasse
Pollack

And when they did go for blue shark, the breeze failed to appear – yesterday morning was flat calm, with no drift. They settled for steady whiting, gurnard and haddock from the bottom. It freshened a bit in the afternoon and they did get one blue shark. But another lovely day on the sea.

Red Gurnard
And finally, a blue shark

Go fishing…

Clare Dragoon

Clare Dragoon is a LOCHIN 366 powered by 650HP engine, skippered by Luke Aston and operating out of Carrigaholt Co. Clare…

I have some offers up on my web site www.fishandstay.com and if anybody is interested in putting a trip together please do get in touch. Also I Twitter from the boat on @fishandstay and try to update my face book page www.facebook.com/CarrigaholtSeaAngling fairly often!To experience some of the best deep sea fishing available in Ireland contact Luke.
Telephone: +353 65 9058209 or +353 87 6367544
Email: [email protected] Web: www.fishandstay.com

Blackwater quiet but river rising following rain

By
Myles Kelly
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FOR WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2021

No change from last week. Plenty of coloured fish in the system as it is that time of the year. The weekend’s rains brought some movement of fish, especially around Mallow but the improved fishing was short lived and declined again. The rain that fell in the last few days may improve the fishing, and levels are rising today at Ballyduff.

Go fishing…

Blackwater Salmon Fishery

Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water.
Contact Glenda Powell: Lismore, Co Waterford,
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +353 (0) 872351260 Telephone: +353 (0) 5853929
Web: www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com

Fortwilliam Fishery & Self-Catering Cottages

Fortwilliam Fishery offers two miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing over five beats on the river Blackwater.
Our salmon include – Springers, May Salmon, Grilse, Back End Salmon, and in Summer sea trout.
Our beats provide a wide variety of water, suitable for both beginners and the more experienced fishermen.
Fortwilliam Fishery, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland
Web: www.fortwilliamfishing.ie Email: [email protected]
Tel: (00353) 87 8292077 or 058 75299

Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery

Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater. The Ballyduff Bridge beat is almost a mile long offering a huge variety of water and is particularly suited to fly fishing. Upstream near the village of Ballyhooley (a few miles outside the town of Fermoy, Cork) we have two beats. The Ballincurrig Beat is one of the most beautiful locations along the river and has an excellent piece of fly water flowing into a deep pool. Just downstream on the opposite bank we have a short but productive beat, called Magners. This beat fishes also well in high water.

Contact  Jason Corcoran:
Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.

Tel: +353 (0)586 0146
Mobile: +353 (0)87 720 5690
Web: www.blackwatertroutandsalmon.ie

Careysville Fishery

Careysville Fishery offers some of the best salmon fly fishing in Ireland and includes 26 named pools. It is considered by many to be one of premier beats for salmon fishing in Ireland. Wading is excellent and among the numerous streams, pools and glides there is a great variety of fly fishing to suit both complete novice and challenge the most competent of fly casters.

Careysville, Clondulane, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
Email:  [email protected] Mobile: +353 (0)86 2378788
Web: http://careysville.com/careysville-fishery/

Lismore Castle Fishery

At Lismore Castle & Golf Course Fishery, we offer nearly two miles of two inter-linked beats, the Castle Beat & the Golf Course Beat.

The legendary Castle Beat consistently ranks as one of the top Salmon beats on the River Blackwater, for the number of Atlantic Salmon caught per rod. The Golf Course Beat offers about 1.5 miles of fishable water through meandering majestic countryside. The Golf Course beat offers a number of bewildering pools suitable for unmatched spinning and bait fishing.

For bookings contact Joe Willoughby on Mobile no. 00353 87 8295449 or Email: [email protected]

Website: www.lismorecastlefishery.com

Blackwater Salmon Anglers, Mallow

We provide Day Tickets for some prime Salmon fishing in Mallow Co. Cork. We have excellent fly water, shrimping worming and spinning also. We also have very competitive Day rates and we have very recently upgraded our fishing.

Tickets available from “The Bridge House” and “Vincent Downes Menswear” Mallow.

Facebook: Blackwater Salmon Anglers

Upper Bridgetown Salmon Fishery

Located on the Munster Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Situated mid river between the towns of Fermoy and Mallow. A productive left bank beat in stunning surroundings.

For bookings contact Conor Arnold: +353 87 755 4682

Facebook: Upper Bridgetown Salmon Fishery

Loungueville House Salmon Fishery

For details on availability and conditions of fishing for salmon and trout on the Longueville House waters please contact them at
Contact : Longueville House Hotel, William O’Callaghan
Address : Mallow, Co. Cork.
Telephone : 00 353 22 47156
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.longuevillehouse.ie

Some decent salmon fishing in West Cork – Ilen and Comholla

By
Myles Kelly
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FOR WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Ilen river – 30 Salmon, best 8lbs by a syndicate member on Prawn.

Comholla river – 14 Salmon, best 7lbs by a club angler on prawn.

1 salmon and a few juniors as mini heatwave hits Waterville

By
Myles Kelly
-
Waterville, September 2021
Wild Atlantic Way. Waterville, September 2021

Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane…

3/9/2021 We start by winding yesterday’s reels in on the World-famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie and for good reason, Currane fly angler Mr. David Morrissey caught a fine 5 ½ lbs Salmon. Now we again head upstream to Lough Currane and today’s lack of action and in the words of one top Gillie and I quote No Fish No Wind No good and the picture tells today’s story.

4/9/2021 The Waterville Fishery was all quiet on all fronts this day. Wind SSE light to fresh with reasonable cloud cover.

5/9/2021 Just a few boats out manipulating the Currane waters on a very overcast day with a SSE wind light, by all accounts their lines were slack.

6/9/2021 Mini heat wave hits Currane anglers this day with blazing sunshine from midmorning, followed by a light SSE wind and variable and all communications were all silent, mind you there could be some breaking news with the evening shift so watch this space.

7/9/2021 Just one boat out on this hot day as the sun blazed down on the waters of Lough Currane, the only savour was there was a nice ESE light breeze. So, you do not have to be a rocket engineer to know today’s results plus the Vodafone lines were all slack and here endeth today’s Currane notes.

Waterville, September 2021
Wild Atlantic Way. Waterville, September 2021

8/9/2021 There were four boats today and it was the Currane fly Trout anglers that were manipulating their skills and for their efforts they caught a few Juniors and bagged a few Brownies and that was their ration for the day. Wind East and veered Southeast light and variable and overcast with rain coming in tonight and the possibility of flash floods as you can see by the yellow warning for the Currane forecast

Sunset
Sunset

9/9/2021 The Waterville Fishery was all quiet on all fronts this day. Wind NW light and followed by showers.

Vincent Appleby
www.salmonandseatrout.com

Go fishing…

Vincent Appleby

Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0) 87 207 4882
E-mail:[email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com

Find out more about Lough Currane…

The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see

Big cod, sharks, and a lot more in Galway Bay

By
Kevin Crowley
-
Nice Galway Bay cod

The red tide appears to have cleared in Galway Bay, allowing shark fishing to resume again. John Fleming is a skipper with shark on his mind, and he put some guests over some fish as soon as he could. The first day back saw some small blues caught, with one big fish circling the boat but not picking up any of the baits on offer. They also had a number of baby spurdog, and other species including tub gurnard.

 

A small blue shark. They get much bigger!
It was clearly a day for baby fish, with this little spurdog among the catch.
A lovely tub gurnard for this young man.

A day later the big boys came to town, with two blues landed estimated at 70lbs and 90lbs, at the same time no less!

Blue shark of ~70lbs for David Quirke
Now that’s a workout! 90lbs blue for Brian
Double the fun!

John has also been on tour, bringing some guests to the Cliffs of Moher, with some great fishing found below. They had some lovely ballan wrasse, as well as good pollack and mackerel.

Ballan wrasse
Another good ballan

Big Cod

Kevin MacGabhann, skipper of the Maighdean Mara, has also been out targeting whitefish, with some fine fish coming aboard. Maciek had this nice ling, while Gerard had a cracking 10lbs+ cod.

A nice ling for Maciek
Gerard with a fine cod

Go fishing…

Blue Shark Angling Galway

To book fishing with John aboard the Brazen Hussy II, give him a call on 087 7571320

A regular day is between 9am- 6pm from either Rossaveal, Spiddal or Galway depending on species being sought after. Fishing on the inshore reefs for pollock, cod, ling, wrasse, conger eel and mackerel can be reached in 10 minutes from departure, while our offshore reef marks are within 45 minutes of departure. Our ground fishing for tope, spurdog, ray, bullhuss, turbot, plaice and the giant common skate can all be reached within the hour which ensures the most amount of time is spent fishing.
The shark season usually starts at the end of June and runs into late October, this is the ultimate angling adrenaline rush with these hard fighting blue and porbeagle sharks all being tagged and released safely.
Package deals available

Address: Baile an tSagairt, Spiddal, Co. Galway.
Telephone: +353 (0)87 7571320
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueSharkAngling

Blue Shark Angling Galway,
Phone John Fleming : +353 (0)87 7571320

 

Galway Bay Fishing

A regular Galway Bay Safari is from 9am to 6pm. The Maighdean Mara will pick up your party from the pier at Spiddal, County Galway. The boat is yours for the day, though of course skipper Kevin will advise you where the best fishing is to be found. Tackle hire is free.

Address: Galway Bay Safaris, An Boluisce, Spiddal, Co. Galway.
Telephone: +353 91 553888 or +353 86 8547890
Email: [email protected] Web: www.galwaybayfishing.com

Super Sea Angling debut for young angler Denis Foster

By
Shane O'Reilly
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Dan Foster with a fine Shannon Estuary tope

Proud dad Ray Foster reports on a recent fishing trip with his young son Denis:

Myself and my son Denis who is ten years old, left the Sixmilebridge early in the morning last weekend 3-9-21 to get to the slipway at Tarbert Island, and once in the water, we headed straight for our chosen mark near Carrig Island. We started by drifting for bait and caught a nice few mackerel, before anchoring up to fish the flood tide. It was Denis’s first sea fishing trip, but he has done a lot of pike fishing with me and has even caught a thirty-pounder from Lough Derg when he was eight years old.

Fishing was slow at first but when the fish came on it was a hectic few hours. We had a few Thornback Rays to 11lb and then Denis’s rod took off with a screaming run. He struck into the fish and after a great fight, we landed his first Tope of 25lb.

The scrap is on!
First ever tope brings a big smile.

Shortly afterwards he caught a 10lb Bullhuss that also gave him a good scrap in the strong flow.

A nice Huss to add to the mix

We had two more smaller Tope before it was time to head back to the slipway at Tarbert.

Even Dad got in on the action.

Denis says that he now prefers sea fishing to pike fishing…

Farmed salmon encountered in wild salmon river a “serious cause for concern” in Connemara

By
Sadhbh O'Neill
-
Farmed salmon encountered in the Dawros River
Farmed salmon encountered in the Dawros River

Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, is investigating farmed salmon recovered from the Connemara Fishery.

Officers from the Western River Basin District in Galway were alerted by anglers fishing for wild Atlantic salmon on the Dawros River in Letterfrack, more commonly known as the Kylemore River locally. The anglers had captured fish with poorly formed fins and other distinguishing features that are associated with farmed salmon.

Scientists from Inland Fisheries Ireland inspected various fish samples from the river and have confirmed that the fish are of ‘aquaculture origin’ and are not wild Atlantic salmon.

The discovery is a serious cause for concern for Inland Fisheries Ireland, according to its Head of Operations, Dr Greg Forde. He said: “The Dawros Rivers have been designated a special area for conservation for wild Atlantic salmon and we are seriously concerned about the impact that farmed salmon could have on this native species. For example, farmed salmon could potentially transfer disease or could interbreed with the indigenous wild salmon population of this river. Salmon spawn during the month of December and each river has a genetically unique salmon stock. Early indications are that the farmed salmon, due to their size and development, could be capable of spawning this winter and interbreeding with wild fish thereby weakening the natural genetic pool unique to the Dawros River.”

Inland Fisheries Ireland’s investigations are on-going to determine the source of the escape. The state agency has notified the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is responsible for the issuing of aquaculture licences.

In an appeal to owners and operators of salmon fish farms around the country, Dr. Forde said: “To protect and conserve wild Atlantic salmon for both current and future generations, it is absolutely essential that all salmon aquaculture installations are completely secure and farmed fish are not allowed to escape into the wild.”

To report any sightings of escaped farmed fish, anglers and members of the public are encouraged to call Inland Fisheries Ireland’s confidential hotline number on 0818 34 74 24, which is open 24 hours a day.

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